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Contacting An Inmate

Overview

As friends, family, and others interested in keeping in touch with inmates, we thought you might like to know some basic information. Inmates go through an orientation process and receive an inmate handbook to help them learn the rules of the jail, including the rules for mail, phone calls, and visits. Each inmate is provided with a visitors list which they may choose to fill out and turn in. Once the list has been approved, those individuals whose names appear on the approved list can begin scheduling visits.

Please remember that even though inmates are given daily opportunities to contact their family, it is their choice to place a call, send correspondence or to put names on their visiting list. Contact is always at their option. We do not take messages for inmates.

Due to the inadequate size of our jail; we contract with other jails to rent beds for Benton County inmates. Inmates are subject to transport to any of our contract facilities at the discretion of the jail. We currently rent beds from Lincoln, Yamhill and Linn Counties.

Contact an Inmate by Mail

Allowable Mail

Legal or personal-business documents/correspondence

Postcards – postcards may be any size the post office delivers, with maximum dimensions of 5½" tall by 8½" wide. Postcards must include the sender's name and address

Books – books must be ordered and sent directly from the publisher, book club, or bookstore. Books must not have plastic or metal binding. Inmates in segregation may only receive paperback books.

Periodicals – magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals must be new and sent directly from the publisher.

Privileged Mail
In accordance with ORS 169.076 an inmate's correspondence to or from an attorney, the courts, the Attorney General, the Governor, the Oregon State Corrections Department, or Jail Administration is considered "official mail" and will not be inspected.

Restrictions
Anyone can send mail to an inmate, with some restrictions. We will not accept mail from:

An inmate in another corrections-monitored facility or treatment center

Someone who is acting as a go-between for inmates by taking mail received from one inmate and sending it to another

A victim of a crime that the inmate is in custody for either in pretrial or sentenced status

Determination of whether mail or periodicals are to be restricted or refused will be made on an issue by issue basis. Both the sender and the receiver will be notified in writing of any mail rejections

Appeals
Persons wishing to appeal the rejection decision may do so within 7 days, in writing to the Jail Commander, indicating why they believe the rejection is unwarranted.

Addressing Mail to Inmates

Clearly write the inmate's complete name. Do not use nicknames. If you know the inmate's middle name or initial, please include that. Send mail to this address:

(Inmate's Name)
Benton County Jail
PO Box 788
Corvallis, OR 97339

Be sure to hand write your return name and address on the mail! We will not deliver or hold mail for an inmate if it is missing a return address.

Inmate Mail Delivery
We only allow inmates to receive mail sent through the US Postal Service. We do not accept hand, courier, or commercial-mail-service delivered mail. We will not accept mail with postage due.

Contact an Inmate by E-mail

Complete the registration information and make a deposit for a communication account. There is an initial onetime set up fee to establish your account.

Select the inmate you wish to e-mail.

Follow the easy three step process to send your first e-mail.

Once this is completed, you will be provided an e-mail address that will allow you to send e-mails direct from

your e-mail account or text messages from your mobile phone. You will not have to log in to the website to send

messages once you have completed the registration process.

No more trips back and forth to the Post Office or mailbox.

All messages are reviewed for approval and once approved, go right to the inmate kiosk for your loved one to

view AND respond.

When the inmate responds, the e-mail comes directly to your e-mail address. Again, you do not have to log in

to any website to view messages from your loved one.

Better yet, e-mails are only $0.25 each which is far cheaper than mail and in most cases, instant communication.

All revenue from this feature helps support inmate programs at the jail.

Contact an Inmate by Phone

Telephone calls are a privilege for inmates. Staff may restrict the number, length, or telephone use hours based on an inmate's behavior and/or classification status.

Inmates in the Benton County Jail should have no expectation of privacy in their personal telephone calls. Inmate personal calls will be monitored and recorded at any time and this information used in either disciplinary or criminal charges.

Social calls to inmates will not be accepted.

Jail staff will not take and relay messages to inmates.

Inmates are provided with collect-call-only telephones in the housing areas and may call out only during proscribed hours.

Local calls (including Philomath, Albany and Corvallis) cost approximately $1.55 per call.

Long-distance calls are charged on a flat-rate plus the regular per/minute rate.

Inmates who have funds on their account may purchase phone cards in the amount of $10 and $25.

The current inmate phone vendor for the Benton County Jail is Legacy Inmate Communications. If you would like to establish a prepaid account or have general inquiries call 1-888-729-4326 or you can go online to www.legacyinmate.com

Please be advised that if you choose to accept a call from an inmate housed in the Benton County Jail the telephone company will charge you for the cost of the call. If you are receiving unwanted calls or attempted calls from inmates, you may contact jail staff at 541-766-6866 and request that a block be placed on your phone number.